Spindrift Size

[ilnadi]

After much reading and research I am going to build a Spindrift 10-12. I am thinking of splitting the difference and building the s11. I would welcome any opinions on sailing on the s11 with two adults and two small kids (<400lbs total), at least in calm conditions. I hope to use it as a tender when I own a bigger sailboat again and I am thinking the s12 will be too big.

Also I am thinking sloop so I can teach the kids to handle two sails as they progress. Does the sloop without the jib sail as well as the cat rig?

Thanks

[Peter HK]

After much reading and research I am going to build a Spindrift 10-12. I am thinking of splitting the difference and building the s11. I would welcome any opinions on sailing on the s11 with two adults and two small kids (<400lbs total), at least in calm conditions. I hope to use it as a tender when I own a bigger sailboat again and I am thinking the s12 will be too big.

Also I am thinking sloop so I can teach the kids to handle two sails as they progress. Does the sloop without the jib sail as well as the cat rig?

Thanks

As always we want a boat that does everything, but unfortunately the compromises never quite do.

I did much the same thing about 10 years ago...I wanted a sailing boat I could use as a tender and fit on the davits on my cruising cat. I chose a Welsford design (a Golden Bay dinghy) which is 13 and a bit feet long, but I shortened it to 11ft 4inches to fit more easily between the hulls when hoisting on the davits. Basically it's a nice little boat but...it's a bit small to go sailing with more than 2 people, it's a bit big and heavy as a tender especially when on the beach to lift above the tide line or when hoisting on davits. If doing it again I'd sacrifice the sailing component and build a smaller boat that would be better as a tender. I see though the larger cruising boat is in your future so maybe you might choose a boat to go sailing with your kids now in which case a larger boat would be better. Generally here in Australia we don't tow tenders as heavy conditions are quite common, but I note that some northern hemisphere areas have on average lighter conditions so maybe towing a larger tender in the future is possible.

This probably doesn't help much as I don't think there's a right answer.

Cheers

Peter HK

[ilnadi]

It does help, thanks. I would put the tender on deck if I was in the open ocean but tow it in the sounds. I guess I'll have to buy a boat later that is big enough to put the S11 on the foredeck

[Peter HK]

Does the sloop without the jib sail as well as the cat rig?

The answer is no, as the weather helm from the main without the balancing effect of the jib means large rudder angles to sail a straight course. This increases drag and slows the boat, though if only a small jib and a large main then maybe not too badly. Also there is presumably less sail area with the main only on a sloop rig.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Hirilonde]

I use a Spindrift 9 N as a tender to my Renegade which is 27 feet. I think it is just about the most perfect choice. I tow it almost exclusively, because I can. I can fit it nested on the foredeck, which is why I chose nesting and the smallest one. My wife and I can sail it around the harbors we visit cruising. This is one of my favorite things to do. It is a bit cozy for the 2 of us, but you can't have everything. I can't imagine 2 adults and 2 children sailing a 12 together with any comfort, but it could be done in a pinch.

If you are looking for a sailing tender I don't think it gets any better than a Spindrift. If you are looking for a day sailor for 4, you really need to go bigger. If you are looking for a trainer for children, even the cat rigged Spindrift is a great place to start. Deciding which size to build as a tender will be based totally on the boat it is tender to.

[ilnadi]

Thanks all. I just had a conversation with Carla and ordered a Spindrift 11s. 11 because we can all fit for now and when the kids are bigger they will not want to sail with me anyway ; sloop because I already have a cat-rigged poly-mold monstrosity for them to practice on. This will be for them to learn 2 sails.